Big Ben
Listen to London's famous clock tower that has been telling time and chiming every hour for over 160 years!
Close-up of the famous clock face showing the intricate details and massive hands that are 9 and 14 feet long
Big Ben is London's most famous clock tower that stands like a giant timekeeper beside the River Thames! This incredible tower is 316 feet tall (as tall as a 30-story building) and has been faithfully telling time for over 160 years. Fun fact: "Big Ben" is actually the nickname for the huge 13-ton bell inside the tower - the tower itself is officially called Elizabeth Tower, named after Queen Elizabeth II.
The famous clock has four faces, each one 23 feet across - big enough to park a car inside! The hour hands are 9 feet long and the minute hands are 14 feet long, and they're so heavy that it takes a strong motor to move them. Every hour, Big Ben's deep "BONG" can be heard up to 5 miles away, and the sound is broadcast on radio and TV around the world so people know it's the top of the hour in London.
Building this amazing tower took 13 years (1843-1856) and required special techniques to make sure the clock would be incredibly accurate. The clock is so precise that when it runs just 2 seconds slow, workers place a penny on the pendulum to speed it up! During World War II, the tower survived bombing attacks, and its light stayed on as a symbol that London would never give up.
Big Ben reminds us that some things, like keeping accurate time and standing strong through history, become beloved symbols that represent entire cities and nations!
